Latest science news in Physics & Chemistry
Spider glue may spin bio-based adhesives
LARAMIE, Wyo., Oct. 26 (UPI) -- U.S. scientists have analyzed the sticky substance in spider webs and say their findings might lead to development of a new generation of...
New artificial enzyme safer for nature
Perilous and polluting industrial processes can be made safer with enzymes. But only a short range of enzymes have been available for the chemical industry...
Researchers make key step towards turning methane gas into liquid fuel
Scientists take an important step in converting methane gas to a liquid, giving the potential of making it more useful as a fuel and as a source for making other...
Lotus plant study aids engineers
DURHAM, N.C., Oct. 23 (UPI) -- The lotus plant's ability to shed water could help develop moisture-repellent materials for engineering applications, scientists in Durham, N.C., said.
Let's Get Physical (Art)
Science and art aren't mutually exclusive. You can demonstrate scientific concepts artistically, and sometimes even physics can be phun. Take, for example, Sir Isaac's Loft, a feature in the Franklin...
Carbenes: New molecules have wide applications
Researchers at the University of California, Riverside have created in the laboratory a class of carbenes, highly reactive molecules, used to make catalysts - substances that facilitate chemical reactions. ...
'Stealth' wind turbine deployed
Radar-absorbing wind turbine blades could help solve the radar interference issues that preclude some new wind farms.
How White Is A Paper?
Whiter paper and better color reproduction are examples of important competitive advantages on an international market. But how white is a paper? And why do vacation photos turn out so...
Designer molecule detects tiny amounts of cyanide, then glows
A small molecule designed to detect cyanide in water samples works quickly, is easy to use, and glows under ultraviolet or 'black' light. Although the fluorescent molecule is not yet...
Study Shows Time Traveling May Not Increase Computational Power
(PhysOrg.com) -- For more than 50 years, physicists have been intrigued by the concept of closed time-like curves (CTCs). Because a CTC returns to its starting point, it raises the...
The Origin Of Global Warming By Means Of Molecular Selection
Sustainability stretches through greener chemistry. Imagine having a choice in designing environmentally friendly materials. This opportunity is presented in "Identifying the Molecular Origin of Global Warming" scheduled for the November 12's ACS Journal of Physical Chemistry. The approach taken...
Lighter, cheaper, LED light bulbs are starting to enter the marketplace
Just when you were finally warming up to the idea of swapping out your old light bulbs with compact fluorescent ones, you may soon find a new alternative at your...
Researchers create molecular diode
(PhysOrg.com) -- Recently, at Arizona State University`s Biodesign Institute, N.J. Tao and collaborators have found a way to make a key electrical component on a phenomenally tiny scale. Their single-molecule...
Costs of plug-in cars key to broad consumer acceptance
A University of Michigan survey released today shows widespread consumer interest in buying plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEVs). But the cost of the cars is much more influential than environmental...
Advance in 'nano-agriculture': Tiny stuff has huge effect on plant growth
With potential adverse health and environmental effects often in the news about nanotechnology, scientists in Arkansas are reporting that carbon nanotubes (CNTs) could have beneficial effects in agriculture. Their study,...
Assuring quality in lightweight construction
Boats, airplanes and spacecrafts are getting lighter and lighter: Lightweight structures help save fuel and lower CO2 emissions. 'To ensure that police and marine emergency services can rely on their...
The Elettra Experience
Just over a year ago, the Daresbury synchrotron closed down (Is The Ring Destined For The Cracks Of Doom?) and I was contemplating the prospect of travelling to THE Continent...
Harvard scientists bend nanowires into 2-D and 3-D structures
Taking nanomaterials to a new level of structural complexity, Harvard researchers have determined how to introduce kinks into arrow-straight nanowires, transforming them into zigzagging two- and three-dimensional structures with correspondingly advanced functions. The...
Installed Cost Of Solar Photovoltaic Systems In United States Fell In 2008
Researchers released a new study on the installed costs of solar photovoltaic (PV) power systems in the US, showing that the average cost of these systems declined by more than...
Argonne to expand nanotechnology research
ARGONNE, Ill., Oct. 21 (UPI) -- The Argonne National Laboratory says it will expand its nanotechnology research activities thanks to completion of a new microscopy building.
Smart windows covert light to energy
Bioinspired dyes for solar cells are environmentally friendly and transparent
New Rocket Fuel Mixes Ice and Metal
A propellant made of water and aluminum nanoparticles could provide greener rocket propellant and store hydrogen for fuel cell usage.
It's About Time: A Power Line That Sheds Heavy Ice
Tired of Jack Frost knocking out your power? Victor Petrenko, an engineering professor at Dartmouth College, has developed de-icing technology that could save power lines from ice storms. Until now, the only answer...
Safety board issues wake-up call on sleep disorder
WASHINGTON (AP) -- Safety investigators have sent government agencies a wake-up call about sleep apnea, a disorder that's showing up in a wide range of transportation...
Feature: Tax breaks needed to keep us in the solar race, say experts
The clean energy sector is calling out for stronger government incentives to encourage investment in solar and a renewable energy future.
Researchers pin down quantum particles
Researchers at the Kavli Institute for Nanosciences at Delft University of Technology, have succeeded in getting hold of the environment of a quantum particle. This allows them to exercise greater...
Gold nanoparticles give super sensitive cancer test
Technique uses gold nanoparticles and DNA in new test for prostate cancer 300 times more sensitive than commercial assays
Feature: It's a bank job!
Households of the future could save on their electricity bill by using new polymer solar cells made from bank note technology.